Air pump, air chamber device using air pump, and wristwatch having air chamber device

ABSTRACT

An air chamber device has an air pump having a first air discharge valve, an air chamber connected to the air pump for receiving air discharged by the first air discharge valve, and a second air discharge valve for discharging air from the air chamber. The air pump has an elastic body having an upper elastic part and a lower elastic part connected together to define an interior space. At least one through-hole is formed in the upper elastic part for introducing ambient air into the interior space. The first air discharge valve is connected to the elastic body for discharging air therethrough from the interior space when pressure is applied to the upper elastic part of the elastic body to elastically deform same while closing the through-hole to thereby reduce a volume of air in the interior space, and for preventing back-flow of air therethrough into the interior space when the pressure applied to the upper elastic part is released and the through-hole is opened so that ambient air is introduced through the through-hole and into the interior space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air pump having an air introducingthrough hole, an air chamber device provided with a function ofintroducing and discharging air and a wrist watch provided with the airchamber device.

2. Background Art

According to a conventional air pump, an inner volume thereof can bereduced by depressive pressure of a user's finger or the like, a flatbottom face portion thereof is provided with an outside air introducingportion and an air discharging portion and the other inner face of theair pump is hermetically closed. The air introducing portion is providedwith a valve which is opened by reducing inner pressure of the air pumpin comparison with outer pressure thereof by increasing the inner volumeof the pump when the depressive pressure of the air pump is excluded(for example, refer to International Patent Publication No.503052/1995).

Further, according to a conventional wrist watch, a pair of straps arerespectively arranged on the 12 o'clock side and the 6 o'clock side of acase in order to wear the watch on the arm and the wrist watch is fixedto the arm in a state in which a rigid back case and the straps arebrought into direct contact with the arm. Further, there are knownstraps having a function of adjusting the length in order to correspondto a length around the arm of the user.

According to the conventional air pump, the outside air introducingportion and the air discharging portion are constituted to be opened andclosed by a pressure difference which limits the construction anddownsizing of the air pump.

Further, the conventional wrist watch is worn by bringing the rigid backcase into direct contact with the arm and accordingly, a change in theshape of the arm in wearing thereof, is absorbed by a change in theshape of the straps, elastic force thereof and the like with the backcase face constituting a reference face and accordingly, there poses aproblem in which it is difficult to provide always agreeable wearingperformance.

Further, portions of fitting the case and the straps are arranged on anupper face side of the back case face which is brought into contact withthe arm and accordingly, there poses a problem in which there arepresent spaces constituting clearances between vicinities of the fittingportions and the arm and a change in the length around of the armproduced in moving the arm causes a shift of the wrist watch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an air pump and an air chamber device of the invention, avalve of an outside air introducing portion is dispensed with byproviding a through hole at a portion where the user's finger is broughtinto contact with the air pump when the air pump is depressed by thefinger.

According to the invention, the through hole is closed by the fingerwhen the pump, is depressed by the finger since the through hole isprovided at the position where the finger is brought into contact withthe pump when the pump is depressed by the finger. Further, when thedepressive pressure is released, the finger is detached from the throughhole and the through hole is opened. Accordingly, the throughhole of thepump according to the, invention carries out operation of the valve viathe finger.

According to a wrist watch provided with an air chamber device of theinvention, an air chamber having elasticity by air is arranged at arigid portion thereof which is brought into direct contact with the armand portions constituting clearances at vicinities of fitting portions.

Operating portions of an air pump and an air discharge valve arearranged on the surface side of the case. By attaching the air chamberdevice to the wrist watch in this way, the above-described problem isresolved.

According to the invention, air chamber members having elasticity by airare arranged at the rigid portion which is brought into direct contactwith the arm and the portions constituting the clearances at thevicinities of the fitting portions and accordingly, the wrist watch canfirmly be fixed without giving an unpleasant feeling to the arm.

Further, since the operating portions of the air pump and the airdischarging valve are arranged on the surface side of the case, air canbe introduced and discharged in a state in which the wrist watch is wornby the arm and an adjustment of an amount of air at inside of the airchamber can easily be realized while wearing the wrist watch on the arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(A) shows a sectional view of an air pump according to theinvention.

FIG. 1(B) is a sectional view showing a deformed state of the air pumpwhen an upper portion of the air pump according to the invention isdepressed by the finger.

FIG. 2(A) shows an integrated sectional view of an air discharge valveaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2(B) shows an integrated sectional view in which a button of theair discharge valve according to the invention is operated.

FIG. 3 is an integrated sectional view of an air chamber apparatusaccording to the invention.

FIG. 4 is an integrated plane view of the air chamber device accordingto the invention.

FIG. 5 is an integrated sectional view of a wrist watch provided with anair chamber device according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is an integrated sectional view of a wrist watch provided with anair chamber device showing another embodiment according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An explanation will be given of embodiments of the invention withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1(A) is a sectional view of an air pump 1 according to theinvention and FIG. 1(B) is a sectional view showing an example of adeformed state of the air pump 1 when an upper portion thereofconstituting an operating portion of the air pump 1 is depressed by thefinger.

The pump 1 comprises an elastic body comprised of an upper elastic partin the form of a bulge 1 b and a lower elastic part in the form of aflat bottom face 1 c connected to the bulge portion 1 b to define aninterior space. The bulge portion 1 b of the air pump 1 is formed by anelastic material of urethane, silicone rubber or the like and a throughhole 1 a for introducing air from outside into the interior space 21 isprovided at an upper portion of the bulge portion 1 b of the air pump 1.Further, a plurality of the through holes 1 a can also be constituted asnecessary in order to ensure a flow rate of air or the like.

When an external force is not applied to the upper outer surface of thebulge portion 1 b, the shape of the air pump 1 is formed in a dome-likeshape as shown by FIG. 1(A).

The bulge portion 1 b is formed with a thick-walled depressing portion 1b 1 at an upper portion thereof and a thin-walled cylindrical portion 1b 2 at an outer wall portion thereof, and an interconnecting portionbetween the depressing portion 1 b 1 and the cylindrical portion 1 b 2is formed by a thin-walled groove portion 1 b 3. Accordingly, when thebulge portion 1 b of the air pump 1 is deformed by depressive pressureof the user's finger from the outer surface of the bulge portion 1 b;air inside the interior space 21 is compressed and air flows out from anair hold valve 2 and a deformed state thereof is as shown by FIG. 1(B).

The through hole 1 a is closed by the finger 41 and accordingly,compressed air is delivered to outside via the air hold valve 2.Further, when external force, that is, depressive pressure of the fingeris removed, the finger 41 which has been closing the through hole 1 a isremoved, outside air is introduced into the interior space 21 from thethrough hole 1 a and the air pump 1 is recovered to an original shape asshown by FIG. 1(A) by recovery force of the bulge portion 1 b.

Further, as shown by FIG. 1(A) and FIG. 4, according to the air holdvalve 2 per se formed by an elastic material comprised of urethane,silicone rubber or the like, a valve member 2 a on an upper side and avalve member 2 b on a lower side are fixedly attached to each other by amethod of adhering, welding or the like at bonding portions 2 e and 2 fon both sides thereof while leaving a hollow portion 2 d and a contactportion 2 c constituting an air passing portion. The valve member 2 a onthe upper side and the valve member 2 b on the lower side can also beformed by an elastic material in a film-like shape.

The air hold valve 2 is constructed by a constitution in which a lowerportion 1 d thereof below the, valve portion 1 b and the flat bottomface 1 c formed by an elastic material of silicone rubber, urethane orthe like are fixed to each other by a method of adhering, welding or thelike and air is passed only in one direction from the bulge portion 1 bto outside.

An air chamber device 10 is constituted by an air chamber 4, the airpump 1 and an air discharge valve 3 as shown by FIG. 3 which is anintegrated sectional view thereof and FIG. 4 which is an integratedplane view thereof.

The inner surface of the air chamber 4 are formed by an elastic materialin a film-like shape comprised of urethane, silicone rubber or the like.Outer surfaces thereof are formed by stretching cloth, stretching-skinor the like.

That is, according to a film-like elastic material 4 a on an upper sideand a film-like elastic material 4 b on a lower side, there is provideda hollow inner portion 31 and outer peripheral portions thereof arefixed together by a method of adhering, welding or the like such thatrespective faces of the film-like elastic materials of urethane,silicone rubber or the like are aligned to overlap.

The air chamber 4 is attached with the air pump 1 for introducing air ata predetermined position. There is provided the air hold valve 2 betweenthe air pump 1 and the air chamber 4 for passing air flowing from thepump 1 to the air chamber 4 and preventing air from flowing backconversely from the air chamber 4 to the pump 1. Further, at apredetermined position of the air chamber 4, there is attached the airdischarge valve 3 constituted by a button 3 a, a button biasing memberor returning spring 3 b and a tubular member or pipe 3 c for dischargingair.

An upper face portion of the expanded portion 1 d below the bulgeportion 1 b of the air pump 1 and an upper face portion of an expandedportion 3 c 2 below the pipe 3 c, are respectively fixed by thefilm-like elastic material 4 a on the upper side by a method ofadhering, welding or the like.

That is, the pipe 3 c is formed by an elastic member of silicone rubber,urethane or the like and is fixed at a predetermined position of the airchamber 4 remote from the air pump 1 by a method of adhering, welding orthe like. Further, as shown by FIG. 3, the film-like material 4 b on thelower side of the air chamber device 10 serves also as the flat bottomface portion of the air pump 1.

The air hold valve 2 is fixed to the inside of the air chamber 4 by amethod of adhering, welding or the like and divides a space at inside ofthe air chamber device 10 to a side of the air pump 1 and a side of theair discharge valve 3 via the air hold valve 2.

By arranging the air hold valve 2 in this way, air delivered from thepump 1 is held at inside of the air chamber 4 on the side of the airdischarge valve and air is prevented from being flowed back from theside of the air discharge valve to the side of the air pump.

FIG. 2(A) shows an enlarged section of the air discharge valve 3 andFIG. 2(B) is a sectional view showing a deformed state of the airdischarge valve 3 when the button 3 a is depressed from above by thefinger or the like.

A projected portion 3 d is provided at an inner flange 3 c 1 of an innerdiameter portion of the pipe 3 c. The inner diameter portion of the pipe3 c is inserted with the button 3 a provided with a flange 3 a 2 of thebutton 3 a at an upper end thereof and provided with an expanded portion3 a 1 at a lower-end of the button 3 a.

The button returning spring 3 b is inserted between the flange 3 a 2 ofthe button 3 a and the inner flange 3 c 1 of the pipe 3 c. An outerdiameter d1 of the flange 3 a 2 of the button 3 a is made slightlysmaller than an inner diameter D1 of the pipe 3 c.

An outer diameter d3 of an intermediary portion of the button 3 a ismade slightly smaller than an inner diameter D2 of the inner flange 3 c1 of the pipe 3 c.

An outer diameter d2 of the expanded portion 3 a 1 of the button 3 a ismade slightly larger than an outer diameter d4 of a front end of theprojected portion 3 d of the pipe 3 c.

The button 3 a is mounted by pushing the expanded portion 3 a 1 fromabove by depressing pressure of the finger or the like, against springforce of the button returning spring 3 b to thereby penetrate a hole D2provided at the inner flange 3 c 1 of the pipe 3 c and to therebyelastically deform the projected portion 3 d.

As shown by FIG. 2(A), normally, the button 3 a is pushed up by pressureof air in the air chamber 4 and the spring force of the button returningspring 3 b. Further, an inner inclined face 3 d 11 of the projectedportion 3 d of the pipe 3 c and an outer inclined face 3 a 11 of theexpanded portion 3 a 1 of the button 3 a are brought into close contactwith each other to thereby provide airtightness and air stored in theair chamber 4 is not discharged. At this occasion, as shown by FIG.2(A), the projected portion 3 d constitutes an elastically compressedportion to thereby form a so-to-speak interference portion.

When an upper portion of the flange 3 a 2 of the button 3 a is pushed bythe finger, as shown by FIG. 2(B), the button 3 a is lowered against thespring force of the button returning spring 3 b, a clearance 51 isproduced between the inner inclined face 3 d 11 of the projected portion3 d of the pipe 3 c and the outer inclined face 3 a 11 of the expandedportion 3 a 1 of the button 3 a and air stored in the air chamber 4 isdischarged via the air discharge valve 3. That is, by operating thebutton 3 a receiving repulsive force of the button returning spring 3 b,at the interference portion constituted by the expanded portion 3 a 1and the projected portion 3 d, there can be brought about two states ofan air tight state of air and a released state of air. Thereby, air atinside of the air chamber 4 can be held, discharged and adjusted.

FIG. 5 is an integrated sectional view of a wrist watch 14 showing anembodiment according to the invention. A case body 7 containing amovement 15 constituting a timepiece member is attached with glass 5. Aback cover 6 is attached to a back side of the case body 7.

A strap 8 for wearing the timepiece on the arm is integrated to both endportions of the case body 7.

An air pump integrating hole 7 a constituting a hole for inserting theair pump 1 is provided at a vicinity of one of strap attaching portionsof the case body 7 and a hole 7 b for integrating the air dischargesvalves constituting a hole for inserting the pipe 3 c of the airdischarge valve 3 is provided at a vicinity of other of the bandattaching portions.

The air pump 1 is integrated to the pump integrating hole 7 a and theair discharge valve 3 is integrated to the air discharge valveintegrating hole 7 b, respectively, and the air chamber 4 is arranged ona lower face side of the back cover 6. Further, according to the airpump 1, the bottom face portion 1 c is supported by an air pumpreceiving base 7 c formed at a lower portion of an end of of the casebody 7 and the air discharge valve 3 is fixedly supported by the casebody 7 by an air discharge valve supporting member of a fixing ring 13or the like constituting an air discharge valve receiving member formedat an upper portion of other end of the case body 7.

The wrist watch can firmly be fixed onto the arm without giving anunpleasant feeling by such a constitution.

Further, the operating portions of the a air pump 1 and the airdischarge valve 3 are arranged on the surface side of the case 11 andaccordingly air can be introduced and discharged in a state in which thewrist watch 13 is worn by the arm and an adjustment of an amount of airin the air chamber can easily be realized while the wrist watch is beingattached to the arm.

FIG. 6 is an integrated sectional view of a wrist watch showing anotherembodiment according to the invention. The case body 7 is integratedwith the glass 5, the case back 6, spring bars 9 and so on.

The air chamber 4 is arranged on the lower face side of the back cover 6and at the same time, the air pump 1 and the air discharge valve 3 areintegrated respectively to the case body 7 by engaging locking portions10 a and 10 b of the air chamber device 10 to the spring bars 9.Further, a buckle 8 a and a magic tape 8 b are respectively attached toportions of extending both ends of the air chamber device 10 to therebyprovide the function of the strap 8. An effect similar to that of theconstitution shown by FIG. 5 is achieved by such a constitution.

Industrial Applicability

According to an air pump and an air chamber device of the invention, byproviding a through hole at an upper portion of a bulge portion of theair pump, a function of a valve can be provided to the through hole andan air pump and an air chamber device having simplified structures withdownsized formation can be realized.

According to a wrist watch provided with an air chamber device of theinvention, the air chamber device is arranged between the arm and a caseand accordingly, the wrist watch can firmly be fixed without giving anunpleasant feeling to the arm and an excellent wear feeling can begiven.

Although a length around of the arm is changed when the arm is moved andin accordance with time zones, an amount of the change is absorbed byelasticity of an air chamber. Accordingly, a shift of a carried timepiece from the arm can be prevented.

Further, when some impact is applied from outside to the timepiece,impact force is absorbed by the elasticity of the air chamber and notonly the wrist watch but also the arm can be protected.

Further, operating portions of the air pump and an air discharge valveare arranged on a surface side of the case and accordingly, in a statein which the wrist watch is worn by the arm, air can be introduced anddischarged and the wear state can easily be adjusted at all times by acarrier per se.

What is claimed is:
 1. An air chamber device comprising: an air pumpcomprised of an elastic body having an upper elastic part and a lowerelastic part connected together to define an interior space, at leastone through-hole formed in the upper elastic part for introducingambient air into the interior space, and a first air discharge valveconnected to the elastic body for discharging air therethrough from theinterior space when pressure is applied to the upper elastic part of theelastic body to elastically deform same while closing the through-holeto thereby reduce a volume of air in the interior space, and forpreventing back-flow of air therethrough into the interior space whenthe pressure applied to the upper elastic part is released and thethrough-hole is opened so that ambient air is introduced through thethrough-hole and into the interior space; an air chamber connected tothe air pump for receiving air discharged by the first air dischargevalve; and a second air discharge valve for discharging air from the airchamber.
 2. A air chamber device according to claim 1; wherein the airchamber is airtight and has an inner surface comprised of elasticmaterial.
 3. An air chamber device according to claim 2; wherein theelastic material comprises silicone rubber.
 4. An air chamber deviceaccording to claim 2; wherein the elastic material comprises urethane.5. An air chamber device according to claim 1; wherein the second airdischarge valve comprises a tubular member having an air passage throughwhich air from the air chamber is discharged, a button positionable in afirst position to close the air passage of the tubular member to preventdischarge of air from the air chamber and a second position in which theair passage is open to allow air from the air chamber to be dischargedtherethrough, and a biasing member for biasing the button to the firstposition.
 6. An air chamber device according to claim 1; furthercomprising a strap for attaching the air chamber device to a wrist of auser.
 7. An air chamber device according to claim 6; wherein the strapcomprises a buckle extending from a first end of the air chamber and astrip of material extending from a second end of the air chamberopposite the first end thereof for connection to the buckle.
 8. An airchamber device according to claim 1; wherein the upper elastic part ofthe air pump comprises a first portion having the through-hole, a secondportion having a thickness smaller than that of the first portion, andan interconnecting portion disposed between the first and secondportions to allow pressure to be applied to the first portion relativeto the second portion while closing the through-hole to reduce thevolume of air in the interior space.
 9. An air chamber device accordingto claim 1; wherein the first air discharge valve comprises a firstvalve member and a second valve member connected together to form ahollow portion disposed in fluid communication with the interior spaceand to form an air passage communicating with the hollow portion forpassing air therethrough from the interior space when pressure isapplied to the upper elastic part of the elastic body while closing thethrough-hole.
 10. An air chamber device according to claim 1; whereinthe at least one through-hole of the air pump comprises a plurality ofthrough-holes.
 11. A wristwatch comprising: a case body; a timepiecemovement disposed in the case body; a glass member connected to an upperend of the case body; a cover member connected to a lower end of thecase body; a strap member connected to the case body for strapping thewrist watch to a wrist of a user; and an air chamber device connected tothe case body and positionable between the cover member and the wrist ofthe user when the wristwatch is strapped to the user's wrist, the airchamber device having an air pump having a first air discharge valve, anair chamber connected to the air pump for receiving air discharged bythe first air discharge valve, and a second air discharge valve fordischarging air from the air chamber, the air pump being comprised of anelastic body having an upper elastic part and a lower elastic partconnected together to define an interior space, and at least onethrough-hole formed in the upper elastic part for introducing ambientair into the interior space, the first air discharge valve beingconnected to the elastic body for discharging air therethrough from theinterior space when pressure is applied to the upper elastic part of theelastic body to elastically deform same while closing the through-holeto thereby reduce a volume of air in the interior space, and forpreventing back-flow of air therethrough into the interior space whenthe pressure applied to the upper elastic part is released and thethrough-hole is opened so that ambient air is introduced through thethrough-hole and into the interior space.
 12. A wristwatch according toclaim 11; wherein the air chamber of the air chamber device is airtightand has an inner surface comprised of elastic material.
 13. A wristwatchaccording to claim 12; wherein the elastic material comprises siliconerubber.
 14. A wristwatch according to claim 12; wherein the elasticmaterial comprises urethane.
 15. A wristwatch according to claim 12;wherein the second air discharge valve of the air chamber devicecomprises a tubular member having an air passage through which air fromthe air chamber is discharged, a button positionable in a first positionto close the air passage of the tubular member to prevent discharge ofair from the air chamber and a second position in which the air passageis open to allow air from the air chamber to be discharged therethrough,and a biasing member for biasing the button to the first position.
 16. Awristwatch according to claim 12; wherein at least a portion of the airchamber of the air chamber device is disposed on a lower surface side ofthe cover member.
 17. A wristwatch according to claim 11; wherein thecase body has first and second oppositely extending portions, the firstportion having a first hole for receiving the elastic body of the airpump so that the upper elastic part of the elastic body protrudes froman upper surface of the first portion, and the second portion having asecond hole for receiving the second air discharge valve of the airchamber device so that the button protrudes from an upper surface of thesecond portion.
 18. A wristwatch according to claim 17; wherein the airchamber of the air chamber device is airtight and has an inner surfacecomprised of elastic material.
 19. A wristwatch according to claim 17;wherein the second air discharge valve of the air chamber devicecomprises a tubular member having an air passage through which air fromthe air chamber is discharged, a button positionable in a first positionto close the air passage of the tubular member to prevent discharge ofair from the air chamber and a second position in which the air passageis open to allow air from the air chamber to be discharged therethrough,and a biasing member for biasing the button to the first position.
 20. Awristwatch according to claim 17; wherein at least a portion of the airchamber of the air chamber device is disposed on a lower surface side ofthe cover member.
 21. A wristwatch according to claim 17; wherein thefirst portion of the case body has a support portion for supporting thelower elastic part of the air pump; and further comprising a supportmember for supporting the second discharge valve in the second hole ofthe case body.
 22. A wristwatch comprising: a case body; a timepiecemovement disposed in the case body; an air chamber device having an airpump having a first air discharge valve, an air chamber connected to theair pump for receiving air discharged by the first air discharge valve,and a second air discharge valve for discharging air from the airchamber, the air pump being comprised of an elastic body having an upperelastic part and a lower elastic part connected together to define aninterior space, and at least one through-hole formed in the upperelastic part for introducing ambient air into the interior space, thefirst air discharge valve being connected to the elastic body fordischarging air therethrough from the interior space when pressure isapplied to the upper elastic part of the elastic body to elasticallydeform same while closing the through-hole to thereby reduce a volume ofair in the interior space, and for preventing back-flow of airtherethrough into the interior space when the pressure applied to theupper elastic part is released and the through-hole is opened so thatambient air is introduced through the through-hole and into the interiorspace; and connecting means for connecting the air chamber device to thecase body.
 23. A wristwatch according to claim 22; wherein theconnecting means comprises a plurality of locking elements forconnecting the air chamber device to the case body.
 24. A wristwatchaccording to claim 23; wherein the connecting means further comprises aplurality of spring elements for respective connection to the lockingelements.